Residents of Milwaukee's Metcalfe Park community rallied yesterday to protest the closure of their local Pick 'n Save grocery store. According to WISN, the store's shutdown at 2355 N. 35th Street is one of five Kroger-owned locations closing in the area. Melody McCurtis of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges Inc. expressed concerns that with Walgreens and clinics also closing, residents must now travel far outside their immediate area "to get the things that we need to live a whole and full, thriving life."
In response to the closing, the neighborhood has seen an outpouring of activism, with about 100 people attending the protest organized by Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, as reported by jsonline.com. Danell Cross, the organization's executive director, stated, "What we need is somebody that's committed to this community and the communities that surround it," signaling a desire for businesses that prioritize local needs. The protest followed an emergency town hall meeting on the issue.
Many residents are worried that the store's closure will negatively impact their access to affordable, healthy food options. Jarvis West, a local shopper, told CBS58, “It’ll decrease the health, I feel, in this area, because you won’t have healthy options, now you have to go to corner stores and pay a higher price.” Similarly, Shirley Dunn, who lives a quarter mile from the store, shared her frustration about the added inconvenience and cost of getting groceries post-closure.
Pick 'n Save has reportedly offered some resources to affected customers, including free prescription deliveries for the rest of the year and a free 30-day grocery delivery trial, as a way to help ease the transition for those impacted by the closures. Nevertheless, protesters and residents alike remain concerned, feeling the strategy to "enhance efficiency" shouldn't have to negatively impact the community's access to essential services and goods, as mentioned on CBS58. Rally organizers said that Pick 'n Save responded to their concerns, noting the company's strategy, but as residents argue, not at their expense.
